FHA Home Loans: How to Pre-apply and Get Approved Before Making a Home Purchase Commitment

If you're in the market for your first mortgage, the Federal Housing Administration may be able to help you. Thanks to the FHA home loan program, you can apply for loan approval before you've found a home that you want to buy - which means you know what you can afford before you start your house hunt. Here's what you need to know about FHA home loans and how they can help you find the perfect house. Pre-Approval: Assessment Includes Employment History and a Credit Check The pre-approval process can be done over the phone or online in a matter…
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Children Leaving the Nest? 3 Pieces of Sage Advice You Can Share About How to Manage a Mortgage

When your children are about to step out into the world on their own, you want to help them on their way. This especially holds true when it comes to buying a house. As your sons or daughters prepare to take the plunge into home ownership, make sure they follow three crucial tips that will help them during the mortgage process. Don't Bite Off More Than You Can Chew One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make is choosing a home that is beyond their price range. Your children need to remember that they are going to be paying for…
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Applying for a Mortgage? Three Questions Your Lender Will Ask You – and How to Prepare Your Answers

Before approving a mortgage, your lender is going to have to do his due diligence to ensure that you can afford a loan large enough to pay for a house. That means your lender will be asking you several questions about whether or not you can afford a mortgage. Here's how you can prepare to answer these questions in a way that will increase your likelihood of approval. How Stable Is Your Income? Your lender is going to want to know that your income is going to be stable over the life of the loan. This means that you should…
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Refi or Wait? How to Choose Between Refinancing Your Mortgage Now or Waiting Until You Need the Money

Refinancing your existing mortgage may provide you with the opportunity to lower your interest rate, reduce your mortgage payment and adjust your loan term. For those homeowners who have lived in their home for more than a few years, pulling equity out of the property for everything from a luxurious vacation to making home improvements is a tempting potential benefit. However, with property values and interest rates adjusting frequently, you may wonder if now is the best time to refinance your mortgage. Using Equity From Your Refinance One factor to consider when debating between refinancing now and waiting relates to…
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